Past Fire Chiefs of the Year

2025 Fire Chiefs of the Year

• Career Fire Chief Jeremy Craft of the Lehi Fire Department in Utah
• Volunteer Fire Chief Dan Krushinski of the East Franklin Fire Department in New Jersey

2024

• Volunteer Fire Chief C. Reid Vaughan of the Cuba Fire Department in Alabama
• Career Fire Chief Randy Royal of the Colorado Springs Fire Department in Colorado

2023

• Chief Thomas Bell of Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department (PA)
• Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority (CA)

2022

• Marshall Turbeville, Northern Sonoma County Fire District (CA)
• Gary Ludwig, Champaign Fire Department (IL)

2020 and 2021

Due to COVID-19, no awards were presented.

2019

• John Morrison, Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VA)
• James Clack, Ankeny Fire Department (IA)

2018

• Herbert Leusch, Glen Echo Fire Department (MD)
• Joanne Hayes-White, San Francisco Fire Department (CA)

2017

• Marvin Riggins, Macon-Bibb County (GA) Fire Department
• Brian Wade, North Lenoir (NC) Fire and Rescue Department

2016

• Harry Beck, Mesa (AZ) Fire and Medical Department
• Willard H. “Bill” Halmich, Washington (MO) Volunteer Fire Company

2015

• Charles Addington, Wolfforth (TX) Fire & EMS
• Dan Eggleston, Albemarle (VA) County Department of Fire Rescue

2014

• Alan Martin, Tuscaloosa (AL) Fire and Rescue
• Chris Barron, Manchaca (TX) Fire Rescue

2013

• Randy Mirowski, Loveland (CO) Fire Rescue Authority
• Freddy L. Johnson Sr., Stoney Point (NC) Volunteer Fire Department

2012

• Kelvin Cochran, Atlanta (GA) Fire Rescue Department 
• Jona Olsson, Latir (NM) Volunteer Fire Department 

2011

• Debra Amesqua, Madison (WI) Fire Department
• Robert Perry, Union (RI) Fire District

2010

• Tom Carr, Charleston (SC) Fire Department
• Tim Wall, North Farms (CT) Volunteer Fire Department

2009

• Randy Bruegman, Fresno (CA) Fire Department
• James Seavey, Cabin John Park (MD) Volunteer Fire Department

2008

• Charles Werner, Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department
• Michael Lee, Bethany (NC) Volunteer Fire Department

2007

• Russell Tarver, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan
• Michael Varney, Ellington (CT) Fire Department

2006

• Alan Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department
• Tom Kuntz, Red Lodge (MT) Fire Department

2005

• Richard "Smokey" Dyer, Kansas City (MO) Fire Department
• Shane Ray, Pleasant View (TN) Volunteer Fire Department

2004

• Edward Plaugher (Ret.), Arlington County (VA) Fire Department
• Rick Haase, Staunton (IL) Fire Department and Conoco Philips Oil Refinery

2003

• Mary Beth Michos, Prince William County (MD) Fire & Rescue
• Philip Sayer, Galt (MO) Fire Protection District

2002

• Jay Reardon, Northbrook (IL) Fire Department
• Tim Holman, German Township (OH) Fire & EMS

2001

• Bruce Varner, Carrollton (TX) Fire Department;
• William Jenaway, King of Prussia (PA) Volunteer Fire Company

2000

• Bill Peterson, Plano (TX) Fire Department
• Fred Windisch, Ponderosa (TX) Volunteer Fire Department

1999

• Jack Krakeel, Fayetteville Co. (GA.) Department of Fire/EMS;
• Fred Allinson, North Highline (WA) Fire District

1998

• Neil Svetanics (Ret.), St. Louis (MO) Fire Department
• Phil Stittleburg, La Farge (WI) Fire Department

1997

• Cliff Jones, Tempe (AZ) Fire Department
• Robert Bettenhausen, Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department

1996*

• Stephen Paulsell, Boone County (MO) Fire Protection District
• John Buckman, German Township (IN) Fire Department